Chiropractic table



J. C. THOMPSON CHIROPRACTIC TABLE Sept. 2 1967 Original Filed May 15,1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I vils/Ton BY fW 'fi L /fs lit-tern eys,

P 1967, J. c. THOMPSON 3,343,531

CHIROPRACTIC TABLE Original Filed May 13, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 F 7 i,I Z I INVEALTOR.

' IOA WM Sept. '26, 1967 J. c. THOMPSON 3,343,531

CHIROPRACTIC TABLE 7 Original Filed May 15, 1963 s sheets-sheet 5 I II,/2o

F/G6 "39B 1" I I 25% B v m \39C United States Patent 3,343,531CHIROPRACTIC TABLE Joseph Clay Thompson, 4126 El Rancho Drive,Davenport, Iowa 52806 Continuation of application Ser. No. 279,947, May13, 1963. This application Oct. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 511,264

- 12 Claims. (Cl. 128-69) This is a continuation of patent application,Ser. No. 279,947., now abandoned, filed May 13, 1963.

This invention relates to a table for the use of chiro practors inadministering chiropractic adjustments for the correction ofsubluxations or abnormal position or condition of a vertebra, a spinalnerve, an artery, discs, or other portion of a given area in thecervical region of the human spinal column.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a mechanical unitwhich will cooperate with the application of manual force by achiropractor and doctor in adjusting and restoring to normal healthyposition and condition one or more elements or parts in an impairedcervical area of the spinal column requiring correction and adjustment,and particularly to apply tension or traction to the cervical area ofthe spinal column tending to stretch it and carry or move the head andneck a short distance lengthwise along a portion of the spinal columnabove the dorsal and lumbar areas, and to relieve compression ofadjoining parts which sometimes exists or occurs.

Specifically it is an object of the invention to provide an improvedform of headrest having a stationary base plate with a cushioned upperplate secured to move parallel to the base plate but movable lengthwisethereof and in parallel thereto whereby the movement of the cushion willexert a drag or traction upon the area of the subluxation to beadjusted.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide achiropractic table having a movable cushioned headrest, a stationarycushioned body rest, and a leg rest, with mechanical means supportingthe headrest on the body rest whereby a downward movement of theheadrest when produced by manual force, will also tend to produce alongitudinal movement of the cushioned headrest and the head thereonaway from the body rest.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art as the nature of the invention is betterunderstood from the following description and as shown in theaccompanying drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a top or plan view of the cushion of a headrest with a headoutlined face down thereon.

FIGURE 2 is a top or plan view of the cushion of a headrest with a headoutlined in lateral position thereon but with the cushion reversed endfor end from FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the headrest plate that underlies theheadrest cushion.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of the entire headrest structure.

FIGURE 5 is a top view of the supporting structure for the headrest.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a top view, similar to FIGURE 5 of an alternate form of theinvention.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional detail of the lifter mechanism in the alternateform shown in FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 11 is a side view of a table with the headrest attached thereto.

3,343,531 Patented Sept. 26, 1967 In the improved form the tableincludes a strong rectangular metal frame 41 with legs 46 near eachcorner thereof. The frame carries a cushioned body and leg rest 42. Acushioned head and neck rest 1, adapted to hold the head and neck inface down position on the sides of a longitudinal channel 2, orlaterally upon a depression 3 at the opposite end of the cushion, iscarried at the head end of the frame 41. The headrest 1 has an uppercushion or headrest plate 4. The plate 4 is positioned above andsubstantially parallel to a lower base plate 6 that is rigid with themain frame 41 and consequently is fixed against movement. The plate 4 issuspended on a plurality of support links or arms 25 near each of itscorners. The links 25 have their lower ends pivoted on axes transverseto the longitudinal dimension of the table frame 41 between pairs oflugs 6B integral with and rojecting upwardly from the base plate 6. Thelinks 25 extend diagonally upwardly and have their upper ends pivoted inlugs 4A integral with and projecting downwardly from the upper plate 4.A patient 44 may lie prone on the cushioned body 42 with his head 45 onthe headrest structure 1.

The headrest is raised to its highest position when the arms or linksstand at an angle of about 30 degrees from the vertical and is in itssecond or lowest position when they stand at an angle of about 60degrees from the vertical. Other mechanical guide means or other sets ofarms may be provided of different lengths to vary the movement of theupper plate for different cases, but tests have shown that a verticalmovement from A1 to /2 an inch with a longitudinal movement of from /4to /2 an inch will meet the requirements for adjustment of a largeproportion of the subluxations which commonly occur.

In order to provide a uniform length of movement for the upper plate 4both downward and longitudinally, the line of travel of the upper pivotsmust be in the middle /3 of the quadrant between vertical and horizontalradii thereof which is accomplished by the 30 degree angles described.Of course these may be varied to obtain differences in length ofdownward and longitudinal travel if circumstances require. It should benoted as shown by the drawings and due to the links or arms 25 beingparallel that the top plates 4 and the base plates 6 and 39 are held athorizontal levels and in parallel.

Movement of the plate 4 is limited in a downward direction by contactwith cushioned posts 7 that are carried on bosses 6C projecting upwardlyfrom the plate 6. Vertical brackets or plates 8, 8A are fixed to andproject downwardly and upwardly respectively from the cushion plate 4and the support or base plate 6, and are adapted to contact and limitupward longitudinal movement of the plate. Consequently the posts 7 andplates 8, 8A serve as limiting means to prevent movement of the links 25and the plate 4 within the aforesaid 30 degree quadrant.

Centrally located in the plate 6 is a vertical boss 6A carrying ballbearings 11 that journal for free vertical movement an upright column 9with a bifurcated upper end that supports a roller 10. The roller 10engages the underside of the plate 4 near the center of the plate. Thelower end of the column 9 is slotted at 10A to receive one end of alever 12 by which it may be raised to lift the plate 4 by a transverserockshaft 22 carrying a slotted rockarm 14. A link 13 extends betweenthe arm 14 and the opposite end of the lever 12. Knurled end nobs 23 areprovided on the rockshaft 22 for manually adjusting the shaft. A spring24 extends between the shaft 22 and plate 6 and biases it in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from FIG. 6.

The column 9 has an annular surface groove that receives a detent ball19. A plate 20 having a tunnel therein is screwed to the undersurface ofthe plate 6. The detent ball is in the end of the tunnel and is held ina recess in the end of a rod 18 that slidably moves in the tunnel. Aspring 17 is positioned in the tunnel and bears against the rod 18. Aslider member 16 bears against the opposite end of the spring 17. Athreaded adjusting bolt 15 is threadedly carried in an upright extensionof the plate 6 and bears against the slider member 16. By adjusting thebolt 15, the effective pressure of the spring 17 may be adjusted to varythe detent release load between the detent ball 19 and the groove in thecolumn 9. The ball 19 will always engage the column 9 and will seat inthe annular groove and cause the column 9 to be releasably retained inits upper position.

In operation, therefore, the column 9 and the plate 4 are raised totheir raised positions by manually adjusting the rockshaft 22 until thelever 12 raises the column 9 to a position in which the detent ball 19seats in the annular groove on the column 9 and thereby latches it inthe raised position. At this time the plate is cocked for release in adownward and longitudinal movement. The spring 24 and a spring 40 thatextends between the plate 6 and lever 12 causes the lever 12 todisengage the column 9 when the latter is cocked.

In FIGURES 8, 9 and an alternate form of means to raise the upper plateis shown by mounting the shaft 32 longitudinally of the headrest insteadof transversely as in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, but it accomplishes the sameidentical service.

As shown in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10, it consists of a shaft 32 mountedlengthwise of the headrest and rotatably supported in bearing 37 carriedby blocks 33 that are integral with the base housing 39. The shaft 32 isrotated by a crank 35 with a handle 36, and carries on its inner end ahead 31. An annular roller 29 is pivoted on a pin 30 fixed to the head31 eccentrically of the shaft 32. The collar 29 engages a vertical rod27 and upon rotation of the head 31 moves the rod 27 downwardly toactuate a lever 26, pivoted at 38, and raise the column 9 with theroller 10 to force the plate 4 upwardly. A collar 34 is fixed on theshaft 32 and prevents axial movement of the shaft.

A spiral compression spring 28 is mounted on the rod 27 and acts toretain the top or head end of the rod 27 in contact with the roller 29.The base plate 39 has lugs 39B supporting links 25 on pivot pins 390 inmuch the same manner of the previous form of the invention.

In administering the process for cervical subluxations, conventionalchiropractic means such as consultation, palpation, X-rays,neuroealometer, etc., are used to ascertain the location, direction,extent and nature of the subluxation complained of and the adjustmentneeded to remedy it. The doctor then sets the upper plate 4 of theheadrest at the proper uppermost or cocked position, in the mannerpreviously explained, and the patient is placed in horizontal prone orlateral position on the table with the head and part of the neck, ifneeded, placed upon the cushion of the headrest. The hands of the doctorare then applied to the proper point of the effected area which willnormally be adjacent the Atlas transverse bone at the base of the skulland upon a quick force in a downward direction as applied in standardchiropractic practice, the detent load of the detent ball 19 is overcomeand the plate 4 and the entire headrest 1 is permitted to movedownwardly and longitudinally away from the body cushion 42.

By such as operationthe head is allowed to move downwardly andlengthwise to exert a minor amount of tension on the head and neck,thereby opening the articulations in the spine so that the adjustmentproves more effective. As the head moves down when the doctor gives histhrust, the headpiece moves away from the body support 42 so that thehead and neck are at their highest point of tension when the adjustmentis completed. This provides the greatest amount of cleavage since thehead is under traction at the time the adjustment is given, making theslipping of the bones or other parts, one upon the other, far lessdifiicult than would be otherwise experienced. The patient feels muchless concussion and discomfort than would be experienced on a moreconventional headpiece.

While only the preferred forms of the invention have been shown, it isrecognized that other forms and variations will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore while the preferred forms were shown anddescribed in detail for the purpose of clarity and conciselyillustrating the principles of the invention, it should be understoodthere is no intention to limit or narrow the invention beyond the broadconcept set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A headrest structure for a chiropractic table having an elongatedportion for supporting a body of a patient, comprising: a base memberfixed to the elongated portion, a headrest support above the basemember; means connecting the headrest support to the base member forguiding the headrest support in a path having longitudinal and verticalcomponents and between an upper position adjacent the end of theelongated portion of the table and a lower position spacedlongitudinally a greater distance away from the end of the elongatedportion, and releasable latch means rigid with the base member forholding the headrest support in its upper position and adapted torelease upon' downward pressure being applied to the headrest support,and adjusting means associated with the latch means for regulating theamount of resistance to downward pressure before releasing the latchmeans.

2. In a chiropractic table, an elongated body rest, a headrest adjacentan end thereof, mechanical means supporting the headrest for movement inrespect to the body rest in a path between an upper positioncomparatively close to the end of the body rest and lower positionspaced a comparatively greater longitudinal distance from the end of thebody rest, and detent means releasable upon downward pressure on theheadrest for retaining the headrest in the upper position.

3. A chiropractic table comprising: a main longitudinal frame, aplurality of body rests disposed longitudinally and substantially in endto end relation on the frame and for supporting different portions of ahuman body with part thereof being supported rigidly on the frame,mechanical means supporting a part of said rests on the frame formovement in a path having longitudinal and vertical components and inrespect to the plane of said part of the rests that are fixed to theframe, and detent means between the movable part of said rests and theframe for retaining the movable part in a fixed position wherebypressure releasing the detent means will cause tension to be applied toadjacent body portions supported on the fixed and movable rests.

4. The invention defined in claim 3 further characterized by themechanical means being in the form of guides connected to the frame thatpermits the movable rests to move longitudinally away from said fixedpart of the body rests and from the plane of the fixed part.

5. The invention defined in claim 3 in which the longitudinal componentof movement of the movable rests is A to /2 an inch and the verticalcomponent to the plane of the fixed rests is A to an inch.

6. A headrest for a chiropractic table including a horizontalstationary. base plate, an upper plate above and substantially parallelto the base plate, a plurality of pairs of lugs united to the upper sideof the base plate near the corners thereof, arms substantially one inchin length with their lower ends pivoted in the pairs of lugsrespectively about coplanar and parallel axes on corresponding pairs oflugs united to the lower side of the upper plate, a plurality ofsupports united to the base plate upon which the upper plate may restwhen in its lowest position substantially half an inch above the baseplate with the arms extending at an angle upward which is arranged tocarry the upper plate upward about one-quarter of an inch when adjustedto its highest point, and will carry it about one-quarter of an inchlengthwise from the highest position to which it can be adjusted,adjusting means between the upper and lower plates for moving the upperplate to its upper position, and latch means for retaining the upperplate in its upper position, the latch means being releasable upon apredetermined downward force being applied thereto.

7. A headrest for a chiropractic table including a horizontal stationarybase plate, an upper plate above and substantially parallel to the baseplate, parallel arms substantially one inch in length with their lowerends pivoted to the base plate about coplanar and parallel axes, andtheir upper ends pivoted on coplanar and parallel axes on the upperplate, the arms being adapted to suspend and move the upper platesubstantially parallel to the base plate, support means united to thebase plate upon which the upper plate may rest when in its lowestposition with the arms extending at an angle which is arranged to carrythe upper plate upward about one-quarter of an inch when adjusted to itshighest point, and will carry it about one-quarter of an inch lengthwisefrom the highest position to which it can be adjusted, adjusting meansbetween the upper and lower plates for moving the upper plate to itsupper position, and latch means for retaining the upper plate in itsupper position, the latch means being releasable upon a predetermineddownward force being applied thereto.

8. A headrest for a chiropractic table including a base, a headrestsupport above the base, parallel arms substantially one inch in lengthwith their lower ends pivoted to the base about coplanar and parallelaxes, and their upper ends pivoted on coplanar and parallel axes on theheadrest support, the arms being adapted to suspend and move theheadrest support to a plurality of horizontal and parallel positions,support means united to the base upon which the headrest support mayrest when in its lowest position with the arms extending at an angleupward and arranged to carry the headrest support upward aboutonequarter of an inch when adjusted to its highest point, and to carryit about one-quarter of an inch lengthwise from the highest position towhich it can be adjusted, adjusting means between the base and headrestsupport for moving the support to its upper position, and latch meansfor retaining the headrest support in its upper position, the latchmeans being releasable upon a predetermined downward force being appliedthereto.

9. A headrest for a chiropractic table including a base, a headrestsupport above the base, parallel suspension arms with their lower endspivoted to the base about coplaner and parallel axes, and their upperends pivoted on coplanar and parallel axes on the headrest support, the

arms being adapted to suspend and move the headrest support to aplurality of horizontal and parallel positions, support means united tothe base upon which the headrest support may rest when in its lowestposition with the arms extending at an angle upward, the arms therebybeing arranged to carry the headrest support vertically and lengthwisebetween upper and lower positions, adjusting means between the base andheadrest support for moving the support to its upper position, and latchmeans for retaining the headrest support in its upper position, thelatch means being releaseable upon a predetermined downward force beingapplied on the headrest support.

10. A headrest for a chiropractic table including a base, a headrestsupport carried on the base by mechanical guide means that limitsmovement of the support to vertical and longitudinal movement in respectto the table and between first and second positions, the second positionbeing offset from the first position both vertically and longitudinally,adjusting means between the support and base for moving the support tothe first position, and latch means for retaining the support in itsfirst position, the latch means being releaseable upon a predetermineddownward force being applied to the headrest support whereby the supportwill be free to move to the second position.

11. The invention defined in claim 10 in which the guide means issubstantially parallel links that are supported at opposite ends ontransverse and parallel pivots on the headrest support and base.

12. The invention defined in claim 11 in which the links are inclined tothe vertical and are adapted to move substantially in the middle portionof the angular quadrant between vertical and horizontal whereby movementwithin the quadrant creates a movement of the headrest support havingboth horizontal and vertical components.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,582,950 4/1926 Weaver et al.128--72 2,727,510 12/ 1955 Thompson 128-69 2,878,805 3/1959 Sunich 128332,926,660 3/ 1960 Thompson 128-70 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.ROBERT E. MORGAN, Examiner. J. W. HINEY, Assistant Examiner.

1. A HARDEST STRUCTURE FOR A CHIROPRACTIC TABLE HAVING AN ELONGATEDPORTION FOR SUPPORTING A BODY OF A PATIENT, COMPRISING: A BASE MEMBERFIXED TO THE ELONGATED PORTION, A HEADREST SUPPORT ABOVE THE BASEMEMBER; MEANS CONNECTING THE HEADRES SUPPORT TO THE BASE MEMBER FORGUIDING THE HEADREST SUPPORT IN A PATH HAVING LONGITUDINAL AND VERTICALCOMPONENTS AND BETWEEN AN UPPER POSITION ADJACENT THE END OF THEELONGATED PORTION OF THE TABLE AND A LOWER POSITION SPACEDLONGITUDINALLY A GREATER DISTANCE